Martina Miceli

Italian water polo player and coach Martina Miceli began playing for Polisportiva Casal Palocco in Roma, playing in Serie A from 1988-90. She then she played for Racing Roma, before moving to Orizzonte Catania in 1993, with whom she won four League titles and a European Cup. In 1997, she moved to Polisportiva Mediterraneo Catania, where she held the dual role of youth team coach and player. After brief spells at Pescara and McDonald’s Firenze, she returned to Orizzonte in 2005, winning another five league titles, an Italian Cup, two European Cups, and a LEN Super Cup.

With the Italian national team, Micelli reached her peak at the 2004 Olympics, winning the gold medal by defeating hosts Greece in an epic final. Her list of achievements also included two World Championship victories (Perth 1998 and Fukuoka 2001), as well as a second place in 2003, and third in 1994. In Europe, Micelli won four titles between 1995 and 2003.

Having retired from competitive water polo at the end of the 2011/12 season, Micelli remained with the Catania club as coach, and between 2019-25 won six Italian championships and five Italian Cups.

Micelli received the Collare d’Oro for Sporting Merit from the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in 1998.